Aden Duale criticises churches over calls to have IEBC disbanded

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale addresses a press conference at his office in Parliament on Thursday 14/04/16 accusing former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on ICC Cases for the Six Kenyans. PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has criticised church leaders over their call to have the electoral agency disbanded.

Terming them prophets of doom, Mr Duale said there is a clear road map on how the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should be disbanded.

The church, Opposition and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) have called for the overhaul of IEBC before the next elections are held.

Duale told the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) to keep off IEBC and concentrate on preaching religious issues and guiding its flock to the way of God without turning into prophets of doom and predicting violence.

"You cannot tell us that there will be violence during the next general election. You are prophets of doom if you are predicting violence among peace-loving Kenyans. The Jubilee administration has done a lot to bring Kenyans together," said Duale.

NCCK has called for a complete overhaul of IEBC ahead of the 2017 General Election.

The council insisted the commission is incapable of handling free and fair elections. It added that the country is deeply divided despite efforts by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, to unite the country.

The Garissa Town MP said Kenyans are peace-loving people who will preach peace in every part of the country, adding that everyone has a responsibility to advocate for tranquillity and peace as the country heads to the polls.

"Everyone has a responsibility to preach peace, cohesion and integration among Kenyans. We want to tell those predicting violence that they will be in for a rude shock. Are they prophets to foretell violence in the country?" he asked.

Duale said Jubilee was keen to avoid a repeat of the 2007 violence.